The Truth About Kevin

By Robynne Rand

Middle-aged accounting nerd, Allyson Graham has spent her entire life lying—not because she wanted to, but because she had no choice. All she ever wanted was a normal life, a chance to be happy. But if she couldn’t have it, at least she could pretend.

When her boss foists the new guy, Brian, upon her to train, her life is turned upside down. Somehow, their “work” friendship turns into something more, and lying to him doesn’t seem right. Allyson knows as soon as he finds out the truth, the friendship will be over. And she doesn’t want it to be.

A tragic accident reveals her deceptions, to not only Brian, but also her best friend, and Allyson waits for them to abandon her. However, what happens next surprises her and she wonders if she could actually find her happily ever after.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robynne Rand
• Release date: Feb 27, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463420782

Robynne Rand

Robynne Rand grew up on the shores of Rhode Island. Now living in the Foothills of the Piedmont in North Carolina with her daughter, two dogs, and a cat named Henry David Thoreau, she writes about home and the people she misses.Rand also writes Regency romance under the pen name Anne Gallagher.

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Robynne Rand

Shore Road Publishing

Bethania, NC 27010

U.S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2019 Shore Road Publishing

All rights reserved

The reproduction or utilization of this work in whole in part, in any form by any print, electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of any copyrighted materials in any form. To do so is a violation of the author’s rights.

Cover Design by Logan Hendricks © 2019

Cover Photo by earl53/www.morguefile.com

FF 22719

The Truth About Kevin

The First Lie

Allyson Graham watched the clock tick in her office. The huge metal disc hung from the wall at an odd angle. She’d been working at Allied Accounting for twenty-six years, eight months, and four days, and no matter how many times she’d had the janitorial staff straighten the clock, somehow it became crooked again. It drove her nuts. No matter, it was nearly four o’clock. Time for her to go home.

Sandra from accounting poked her head around the doorframe. Hey, we’re all going out for a drink after work. Do you want to come with us?

Oh, that’s sweet for thinking of me, but I can’t. I have to get home. Kevin’s flying in from Stockholm tonight.

Oh wow. When did he go there? Sandra asked.

Last Tuesday. He was supposed to get home yesterday, but his flight was delayed. Sorry. Maybe next time. Allyson smiled.

Sure, ok. See you on Monday.

You bet. Allyson heaved a sigh. Every Friday since Sandra had started working for the firm, she and the other girls from the office would head to O’Hara’s for a drink. And every Friday, Sandra, or one of the others would ask if she wanted to go. Allyson had learned her lesson about drinking with co-workers at an office Christmas party when she had worked for Holbrook and Harding. She had never taken another drink since. The girls in the office were very nice, but she had no desire to see them wasted. The lesson all those decades ago had been a hard one to learn, but it was one she would never forget—never trust what anyone says when they’re drinking, especially at a party.

Allyson leaned over and pulled open her file cabinet drawer, dug her purse from the back of it, and placed it on her desk. She pulled out her cell phone. There was a text from Patty. You forgot to leave my check. Crap. She’d been so scatter brained this morning. She opened her checkbook—there it was. Allyson texted her back. So sorry. I’ll swing by and drop it off. How was he today?

Patty’s text came thirty seconds later. Fine. Thanks.

Crap. Patty was pissed. She liked being paid in the morning. That way her boyfriend wouldn’t hit her when he got home. Her boyfriend was a louse. Poor Patty. Nice girl, but in a bad situation. She walked Allyson’s dog for the extra money.

Allyson shrugged into her coat, picked up her purse, and walked to the door. She clicked the light switch off and locked the door behind her. Heading to the elevator, she noticed the new guy standing with her boss near the break room. She couldn’t remember his name, didn’t want to. She liked the look of him in a surprisingly romantic light, but he would only be there for about six months before growing bored with the job and then he would leave to ply his trade in other, larger waters. It was always the same. Mid-May brought out the college grads who only wanted some experience before they found out the job was dead-end and then move on to New York. It hadn’t been her intention to stay for so long either, but her life hadn’t been what she thought it would be. Now she was Vice President of the Forensic Accounting Office for Allied Accounting.

Allyson stood in front of the elevator doors and pressed the down button.

Hey, Allyson, you gotta’ minute?

Allyson turned. Crap. The new guy loped toward her. He was far too handsome for her not to make a fool of herself. She glanced at Richard Junior, her boss, who waved with a smirk. She smirked back as if to say payback was a bear.

Allyson smiled at the new guy. What was his name? She prayed she wasn’t getting Alzheimers like her mother. I’m just on my way out…Brian. That was it, Brian Carlinski. Or was it Karpinski?

Richard wanted me to let you know I’m supposed to shadow you next week.

What? No. Absolutely not. There was no way on God’s good green earth she was going to train someone else. The last guy started out strong, but once given a real file had been a disaster and it had taken Allyson three months to figure out what he’d done wrong. Allyson kept the smile on her face as she looked over Brian’s shoulder for Richard, but he was gone. The jerk. Richard knew better than to dump another newbie on her doorstep. Payback was now going to be a bitch, Richard.

Allyson? Brian stood there, a half-smile on his face.

She noted the fine wrinkles at the corners of his clear blue eyes. Yes, of course. Whatever Richard says. Allyson turned toward the elevator door and prayed silently, Please God.

The elevator doors pinged open and Allyson jumped into it. She pressed 1 and then the close door button. She turned to face the door. Brian stood there with a hopeful grin on his face. Allyson reached for the handrail to steady herself.

What time should I meet you? Brian asked as the elevator door began to close.

Seven-thirty, Allyson called through the crack. Brian would quit within three days. That would teach Richard to mess with her.

Allyson strode to her car parked in the last spot in the first lane. Another reward for her performance at the company. Although, Miles had gotten a Mercedes and George had gotten a timeshare in the Bahamas. But she hadn’t needed a new car, and vacation time had been useless because of her mother. All she ended up with was another raise and a stupid parking spot. Ever since Richard Junior had taken over the company three years before, on Friday night she told herself she should find another job. Somewhere that she would be appreciated and revered for her excellent work. But every Monday morning, she showered and dressed, and appeared at Allied Accounting by seven-thirty. Her mother depended on her.

Allyson pulled in her driveway and then backed out again. She’d forgotten to drop off Patty’s check. Crap. She hoped the boyfriend wasn’t there. He was such a toad. Allyson had tried to talk some sense into Patty, but the girl thought Mike was the world. Too bad. Patty was a nice